E-Solex: French Electric Bike with Italian Style

Bikes are a great way to get around, but only if you have some measure of fitness. Motor-scooters are fine if you live in Italy or Spain where they are a part of life, but you risk a quick death on American or English roads.

Enter the electric bike. Normally ugly things, E-Solex are doing their bit for the environment in style with this Pininfarina designed update to a classic VeloSolex pedal/petrol engine hybrid from the 1940s.

The E-Solex will get up to 21mph in fast mode, or 16mph in ‘eco’ where it will run for 37 miles (around two and a quarter hours). A rechargeable Lithium-ion battery gives the power and you can add that little bit extra for hills by pedaling (also useful when you run out of juice a few miles from home).

Disk brakes and a small luggage compartment round out the features, and you can pick one up for €1150 ($1560), although you’ll have to go to France to get one.